Here, we’ll be looking at those essential oils you can deploy for natural lice control. Luckily, such essential oils aren’t difficult to come by. In other words, these are readily available products as you’ll soon find out.
There’s a gradual, yet steady shift towards the adoption of natural solutions for pest problems. Essential oils are popular pest control remedies that also double as aromatherapy treatments for varied conditions.
One of the most worrisome and embarrassing pest situations to have is lice infestation. So, how best can lice infestations be handled?
The use of essential oils is a great way to tackle such problems.
How Effective Are Essential Oil Lice Control?
Essential oils have come to be known as a solution for a variety of pest issues.
This includes lice prevention.
While this is a widely held belief that has seemed to work, some doctors aren’t fully convinced of the efficacy of essential oils. However, the point is that lots of people successfully treated lice problems with essential oils.
How Safe Are These On Skin?
Head lice are most common with kids and are easily spread through direct contact.
While essential oils may provide the needed effect on lice, their safety is another consideration to make. Such an effect may be worsened by allergic reactions which can be significant.
Thankfully, allergic reactions to essential oils aren’t so common among kids. Nevertheless, it’s important to still be extra cautious. To be sure, consider applying a drop of essential oil mixture to the back of your child’s hand.
If nothing happens after a few minutes, it should be safe for application.
Essential Oils For Lice Treatment
There’s a long list of essential oils that can be used for treating lice problems. These include clove oil, tea tree oil, neem oil, lavender oil, and nutmeg oil.
Others include eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, aniseed oil, red thyme oil, and cinnamon leaf oil.
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Clove Oil
Clove oil can provide a much-needed relief from itchiness caused by lice presence.
Clove essential oil consists of two basic components known as beta-caryophyllene and eugenol. These constituents give it a unique smell that irritates head lice.
To effectively combat lice problems using clove oil, you’ll need to infuse this product into your shampoo. You only need to add about 4 drops of this essential oil into any shampoo of your choice.
Next, apply onto hair and allow to sit for about 5 minutes before using a nit comb. Work your nit comb through the hair and thoroughly rinse with a lot of water. This should do the magic
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Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil helps arrest lice spread by simply applying over affected areas.
First, you’ll need to use a chemical-free shampoo. Having poured out a quarter-size amount, add about 3 drops of tea tree oil and apply them onto the scalp.
It will need to be left on the scalp for about 30 minutes before rinsing thoroughly with a lot of water.
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Neem Oil
With its insecticidal properties, neem oil makes for a perfect remedy for lice problems.
Not only does it eliminate head lice, but it also kills their larvae in addition to soothing irritated scalp. A mixture containing a tablespoon of neem oil and an equal part of coconut oil is made.
Next, you’ll have to massage such mixture onto the affected scalp and allow to sit for about 30 minutes to one hour before rinsing off with your preferred shampoo.
Of course like for other essential oil treatments listed, treatment should be repeated every 2 days for about a few days to a month.
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Lavender Oil
Lavender oils are great for lice treatment and prevention. This oil smell is detested by lice. Also, lavender essential oil provides soothing relief to the itchy scalp, thus eliminating the problem within a short time.
To have any impact on lice, you’ll need to make a solution of 10 drop lavender oil added to about 3 tablespoons of your preferred carrier oil. This mixture should be massaged onto hair and allowed to sit for one to two hours.
Using a nit comb, shampoo your hair and thoroughly rinse with plenty of water.
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Nutmeg Oil
To use nutmeg oil for lice prevention, you’ll need to choose preferred carrier oil such as almond, coconut, or olive oils. Now mix about 30 ml of carrier oil to 10 drops of nutmeg and apply to lice-infested scalp.
Using a shower cap, cover the hair for about an hour before combing to remove lice.
Now, wash with herbal shampoo and use a nit comb on the hair. This should be repeated twice every week until there’s no sign of lice presence.
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Eucalyptus Oil
With its scalp soothing properties, eucalyptus oil should be considered for lice prevention treatments.
A mixture containing 3 drops of this essential oil and any shampoo should be made. Massage the mixture into the hair and let it sit for about 20 minutes.
Now, comb the hair using a nit comb with the possible addition of eucalyptus oil when lice are spotted. Thoroughly rinse hair with enough clean water.
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Peppermint Oil
This is the perfect remedy for the itchiness caused by lice presence.
You’ll need about 2 to 3 tablespoons of carrier oil (most preferably olive oil) and 4 tablespoons of peppermint oil. These are mixed and massaged onto the scalp.
Covering your hair with a shower cap, allow to sit for about 30 minutes.
Next, use a nit comb to work through hair. This helps get rid of dead lice. With this step completed, rinse the scalp with sufficient water.
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Aniseed Oil
Aniseed is another essential oil that prevents the spread of lice in hair.
It has been found to curtail lice presence in kids within 15 days. About 5 drops of aniseed, 3 tablespoons of coconut oil, and 3 tablespoons of tea tree oil are mixed.
This solution should be massaged into the hair and allowed to sit for about 3 hours. Of course, you’ll need a shower cap to cover the scalp or treated area.
Use a nit comb and work through hair before rinsing with clean water.
SEE: Shower After Lice Treatment
These are some of the most effective natural remedies for lice prevention.
Here, we’ve provided some of the essential oils that help provide quick relief from lice problems.